Trained Pets As Therapy Volunteers Are Wanted By Health Care Facilities Nationally!

Want To Help our Frail,
Aged and Vulnerable Communities?

Leah and Millie…….. Tricia and Pandora

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We offer a National and International Pets As Therapy Correspondence Training E-Course

Welcome to our pets as therapy program and to the marvelous rewards and personal satisfaction gained from working as a trained volunteer in a professionally structured and managed pet therapy program.

Our volunteers often express how personally rewarding and satisfying it is to gain the skills, understanding and methods, to interact with adults and children with challenges; and to share the affection of their pets to bring smiles to faces and joy into hearts. Pets have a habit of doing that to people, don’t they!

 

Sarah and Brandy

If you live in the Wollongong, Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle or Brisbane areas, we are looking for people who would like to participate in offering conversation, companionship and general interaction with the frail aged residents in a facility with a friendly pet, on a regular, ongoing basis.

If you live in another state or country, you may take our Pets As Therapy Correspondence Training Course and we will show you how to become a volunteer in your own area. Please e-mail or phone Velma and ask for the course details and application form.

Jon and Kate with their menagerie
(all these pets passed the course pet assessment)

Visitors Should…

• enjoy meeting and talking with people from all walks of life
• be able to commit to offering a minimum of a few hours once a week, fortnight or month, on a regular basis
• have a dog, cat or pet (or access to such a pet) which is healthy, calm, friendly towards all people and other dogs and is well mannered (dogs don’t need to know full obedience prior to the course as the course inlcudes that)
• be reliable and responsible and aged over 18
• have access to reliable transport
• be community spirited
• enjoy seeing people to smile

You may be working with the frail aged or challenged children, or any person who may benefit from kisses, cuddles and interaction with a friendly pet.

Lee and Gemma (mother and daughter)

When you enroll in the course at the same time as a friend, there is $25.00 discount off the second course.

What Training Will You Receive?

is on health and safety awareness, issues and procedures, which will keep your pet, yourself and the people you visit, safe from injury or harm. It includes specific training methods for your pet and if your pet is a dog, in basic obedience. Upon successful completion of the course you receive an accreditation certificate. We provide you with the paperwork, support and advice to commence pets as therapy voluntary work, within your own location.

Anne and Terra

The Aim Of The Course
Is To Show You How To…

• Work closely with the facilities’ contact person, e.g. Diversional Therapist,Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Behavioural Therapist, Activities Officer.
• Be aware of the Health and Safety rules and regulations within each facility.
• Confidently and comfortably interact with people with dementia; the sight, hearing and speech impaired; the stroke challenged, immobile and frail-aged; and physically, emotionally and intellectually vulnerable adults and children.
• Be aware of each individuals needs and requirements regarding pet interaction, and for each individual to receive the most psychological, emotional, physical and social benefit and enjoyment from the pet.

Michelle and Kyro

How Is The Course Taken?

Pets as therapy is ‘highly skilled’ work and requires a comprehensive training course. There are many health, safety and professional procedures to know plus an awareness of legal issues. The course is HOME STUDY. You receive a training course manual. You complete the questions at the end of each chapter. We read and comment on your answers and return these to you.

Phone and e-mail advice and support is provided during the course and if you have access to Sydney or the Central Coast monthly, practical training is an optional extra. Course student living in all areas receive phone and e-mail support. The course takes approximately 50 hours home study and needs to be taken within 6 months of the start date.

Pets are required to be assessed for healthiness, friendliness and if the pet is a dog, basic obedience before the end of the course. The course trains students to train pets in their own homes, to pass the assessment. A Course Completion Certificate is awarded to volunteers and their pets on completion of the training course.

Julie receiving her course certificate at a volunteers meeting

People and pet visitors come in all shapes and sizes!

Locations of our course graduates and
pets as therapy visitors in Australia

Sydney - North, South, East and West
Southern Highlands
The Central Coast
Wollongong
Grafton
Byron Bay
Northern NSW
Dubbo
Brisbane
Canberra
South Australia
Adelaide
Victoria

E-mail us at: petcourses@yahoo.com to send you the full details of the Pets As Therapy Correspondence Training E-Course. The course fee is $379.50 (Australian) when taken by e-mail; or $479.50 when taken by usual Australia Post. International students are required to take the course by e-mail.

Enjoy deeply rewarding and highly beneficial paid work as a
‘pets as therapy’ visitor!!

Course graduates can choose to become volunteers or receive paid work as a pets as therapy visitor. Paid work can generally be little more than pocket money as pets are restricted to a maximum of 2 visits per day as they find the work tiring.

Contact Velma for more details on 02 9418 4343, or 0432 578 210,  or email: velma@velmaspetsastherapy.com.au